Stone-gathering machine



y 6, 1968 J. BESTLAND ETAL 3,392,790

STONE-GATHERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1965 I MM m m We NW2 w wsw 7 m5 04 5 w W m W W Y B f w 6 Sheets-Sheet 1':

Filed Oct. 15, 1965 M ATTOf/VEYS,

y 15, 1968 J. BESTLAND ETAL 3,392,790

STONE-GATHERING MACHINE 6 Sheets$heet 3 Filed Oct. 15, 1965 INVENTORJ v/EEGE/V 55s 72 Amp,

FL 0X0 M ///1.,

47'TOE/VEYS July 16, 1968 Filed Oct. 15, 1965 FIG. 4.

J. BESTLAND ETAL STONE-GATHERfNG MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS (/52 GEN 55572 4N0,

FLOYD M/EL,

July 16, 1968 I J. BESTLAND ETAL STONE GATHERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 H Fild Oct. 15, 1965 I fi I NVEN TORS M5965 55572. 4N0,

July, 16, 1968 J. BESTLAND ETAL STONE-GATHERING MACHINE Filed (501:. 15, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS g/EEGE/V 5557-44/V0,

FLOYD M V/E'L,

4 True/v5 Y-S.

United States Patent 3,392,790 STONE-GATHERING MACHINE Jergen Bestland and Floyd W. Vie], both of P.(). Box 632, Billings, Mont. 59103 Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,316 11 Claims. (Cl. 17163) This invention relates to a stone gathering machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stone gathering machine in which selected mechanism is provided for connecting the hopper for movement between the stone receiving position and the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop between the stone gathering position and the stone depositing position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stone gathering machine wherein the hopper is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and the hopper is connectible, at the will the operator, to the scoop for movement with the latter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stone gathering machine wherein the hopper is mounted over the mobile frame either above the level of the frame or partially below the level of the frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stone gathering machine in which the pull tongue may be to one side of the mobile frame or at the center point of the front of the mobile frame.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stone gathering machine according to the present invention wherein the hopper is above the level of the mobile frame and the pull tongue is to one side of a side member of the mobile frame.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the assembly of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational longitudinal view of the assembly of FIGURE 1, the full lines indicating the scoop in the stone gathering position and the hopper in the stone receiving position, and the dotted lines indicating the scoop in the stone depositing position and the hopper in the stone dumping position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a stone gathering machine according to the present invention wherein the hopper is partially below the level of the mobile frame and the pull tongue is at the center of the front cross member of the mobile frame.

FIGURE 5 is a partial plan view of the portion adjacent the front of the machine of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a stone gathering machine according to the present invention wherein the hopper is partially below the level of the mobile frame and the pull tongue may be to one side of the side member of the mobile frame as shown in full lines or in the center of the front cross member of the mobile frame, as shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded fragmentary view of the connection for securing the pull tongue carrying the extension to one of the side members of the mobile frame in the machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged elevational longitudinal view, partly in section, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG- URE 6, the full lines indicating the scoop in the stone gathering position and the hopper in the stone receiving position, and the dotted lines indicating the scoop in the stone depositing position and the hopper in the stone dumping position.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, such figures illustrate a stone gathering machine according to the present inven- 3,392,790 Patented July 16, 1968 'ice tion wherein the hopper arranged in the stone receiving position is disposed over the mobile frame or above the level of the mobile frame and the pull tongue is disposed to one side of the mobile frame adjacent the forward end thereof. This machine comprises a frame 10 which includes a pair of side members 12, a rear cross member 13 extending between and joined to the side members 12, and an intermediate cross member 14 forwardly of and spaced from the rear cross member 14 and joined to the side members 12. An extension 15 extends forwardly from the front end of one of the side members 12, FIGURE 1, the extension 15 carrying a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 16 which is inwardly of and adjacent the free end of the extension 15. A caster wheel fork 18 is journaled at its upper end in the bearing sleeve 16, a caster wheel 19 being journaled in the fork 18 for supporting the forward end of the frame 10 and providing for the steering of the machine. A pull tongue 20 projects perpendicularly from a support structure 22 carried by the extension 15 at the free end thereof, the tongue 20- being provided at its free end with an apertured lug 21 for connection to the hitch mechanism of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the extension 15 has a portion adjacent its rear end disposed in side-by-side abutting relation with respect to the portion of the one side member 12 adjacent the free end thereof, and the extension portion is securely fastened to the free end portion of the side member 12 by means of a plurality of angle pieces 7 which extend transversely across and are welded to the top and bottom faces of the side member 12, the angle pieces 7 also engaging the top and bottom faces of the rear end portion of the extension 15. A strap iron 6 abuts against the outer vertical face of the rear end portion of the extension 15 opposite an angle iron 7, the straps being secured to the adjacent pair of angle irons 7 by means of bolts 5 which extend through bores 4 provided in the angle irons 7, the free ends of the bolts being in threaded engagement with nuts 2. A stop is on the said one side member 12 for abutting against the end of the extension 15.

Carried by the frame are a pair of rear ground-engaging wheels 24 which support the rearward end of the frame 10. By reference to FIGURE 2. it will be seen that the right rear wheel 24 is disposed forwardly of the left rear wheel 24, the purpose of this disposition being to retain the scoop 30 in proper balance.

A subsidiary frame indicated generally by the numeral 25 and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side pieces 26, a front cross piece 27, and a rear cross piece 28, is positioned between the side members 12 of the frame 10 so that it extends in an upwardly sloping direction with the rear cross piece 28 above and adjacent the side members 12 of the frame 10 and the front cross piece 27 below the side members 12 and adjacent to and spaced from the intermediate cross member 14 of the frame 10.

A scoop 30 is disposed so as to gather stones from the ground surface and extends along and forwardly of the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25 and faces toward the front cross piece 27, the scoop being fixedly secured to the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25. Specifically, the scoop 30 comprises a plurality of tines 32, each including an upstanding shank 33 and a tapered prong 31 projecting from the lower end of the shank 33, the upstanding shank 33 being disposed in sideby-side spaced relation forwardly of and abutting the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25 and extending along the entire length of the cross piece 27 and being secured to the cross piece 27.

Means is provided which connects the rear cross piece 28 of the subsidiary frame 25 to the mobile frame 10 for pivotal movement of the subsidiary frame 25 between ii the stone gathering position of the scoop and the stone depositing position of the scoop 3t). Specifically, this means comprises an upstanding bracket carried by each of the side members 12 and a pivot pin 36 carried by each of the brackets 35 and journaled in the rear cross piece 28 of the subsidiary frame 25.

A stop 38 is carried by each of the side members 12 of the mobile frame 16 and engages the underneath surface of the adjacent one of the side pieces 26 of the subsidiary frame 25. These stops 38 constitute means for adjustabiy holding the scoop 30 in the stone gathering position.

Means is operatively connected to the subsidiary frame 25 for effecting pivotal movement of the frame .25 between the stone gathering position of the scoop 30, shown in full lines in FIGURE 3, and the stone depositing position of the scoop 30, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Such means comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders 40, each having a plunger reciprocably movable therein and a connecting rod secured to the plunger and having one end projecting outwardly of the one end of the cylinder. The cylinders 40 are arranged in lateral spaced relation along the rear cross member 13 of the mobile frame It and each has one end pivotally connected to the rear cross member 13, as at 41, the projecting ends of the connecting rods 42 being operatively connected to the adjacent portion of the rear cross piece 23 of the subsidiary frame 25. This arrangement is such that when the plungers are actuated so as to project the connecting rods 42 out of the cylinders 40 by the admission of fluid under pressure into the appropriate ends of the cylinders the subsidiary frame 25 will swing about the pivot pins 36 and shift the scoop 30 from the stone gathering position, shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, to the stone depositing position, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Admission of fluid under pressure in the opposite ends of the cylinders 40 results in shifting of the scoop 30 to the stone gathering position.

A hopper 45 for receiving gathered stones is disposed above the level of the mobile frame 10. This hopper is of a right angled configuration and is mounted on the support bars and 51 so that the long leg portion 46 lies along the support bars 56 and 51 with the juncture of the long leg portion 46 with the short leg portion 47 resting and supported upon laterally aligned rests 48. The support bars 50 and 51 are arranged in an upwardly sloping direction and are supported upon a pair of spaced posts 52 and 53 which rise from the rear cross member 13 of the mobile frame 10. The lower ends of the support bars 50 and 51 are disposed forwardly of the posts 52 and 53 and are fixedly secured to the side members 12 of the mobile frame MP. The upper ends of the support bars 56 and 51 are disposed rearwardly of and spaced above the posts 52 and 53. A rest 48 is on each of the support bars 50 and 51, the rests 48 being engaged by complemental pins 49' projecting from the end walls 45 of the hopper 45 to thereby hold the hopper in the stone-receiving position.

Means is provided which connects the free end of the long leg portion 46 of the hopper 45 to the upper ends of the support bars 50 and 51 for pivotal movement on the axis of the hopper about a horizontal axis. Specifically, this means comprises a pivot pin 56 which is supported in each of the end walls 49 of the hopper 45, each pivot pin 56 being journaled, FIGURE 1, in a bearing sleeve 56' of the hopper box pivot bracket 50' bolted to the upper end of the adjacent one of the support bars 50 and 51.

Mechanism is provided which is operatively-connected to the mobile frame 10 and the subsidiary frame 25 for selectively'connecting the hopper 45 for movement between the stone-receiving position and the stone-dumping position responsive to the movement of the scoop 30 between the stone-gathering position and the stone-depositing position. This mechanism comprises a lift arm 60 supported upon the subsidiary frame 25 and extending from the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25 to a point adjacent the hopper 45 and having the end adjacent the front cross piece 27 connected to the subsidiary frame 25 for movement therewith, as by a pivot pin 61. Releasable interengaging means is on the end of the lift arm 6% which is adjacent the hopper 45 and on the exterior of the adjacent Wall of the hopper 45, said means serving to connect the hopper 45 to the scoop 30 for movement of the hopper 45 between the stone receiving position and the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop 30 between the stone gathering position and the stone depositing position. Actuable means is operatively connected to a side member 12 of the mobile frame 10 and is operable, upon actuation, to engage the lift arm 60 and shift the lift arm so that the releasable interengaging means connects the hopper 45 for movement responsive to movement of the scoop 3t), and operable, upon release, to disengage the hopper 45 for movement responsive to movement of the scoop 30. As shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, the lift arm 60 consists of a pair of like arms 60 which have the end adjacent the front cross piece 27 pivotally connected thereto as by the pin 61, and the interengaging means on the end of each lift arm which is adjacent the hopper 45 embodies a hookshaped element 62, the element 62 being adapted to releasably and embracingly engage a rod 63 on the adjacent wall or short leg portion 47 of the hopper 45.

The actuable means of the stone gathering machine of FIGURES 1 to 3 includes a lever 65 rockably supported on one of the side members 12 of the mobile frame 10 inwardly of and adjacent the forward end of the member 12, a lift member 66 which is pivotally carried by the subsidiary frame 25, and a cabl or cord 67 operatively connected to the lever 65. The lever 65 has the intermediate part extending loosely through aligned openings 91 and 92 provided in cooperating ears 93 and 94, FIGURES 1, 2 and 7, projecting upwardly from the top faces of the extension 15 and the one side member 12. Application of pull to the cable 67, cause the lever 65 to be moved into lifting engagement with the lift member 66, and thereby shifts the hook element 62 into embracing engagement with the rod 60 and connects the hopper 45 for movement from the stone receiving position to the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop 30 from' the stone gathering position to the stone depositing position. Release of the application of the pull on the cable 67, causes the lever 65 to return to its normal position and be moved out of lifting engagement with the lift member 66, and thereby shift the hook element 62 out of embracing engagement with the rod 63 and disconnect the hopper 45 for movement from the stone receiving position to the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop from the stone gathering position to the stone depositing position.

It is to be noted that in the thus described form of FIGURES 1 to 3 a pair of stop members 72 are provided on the side members 12 Of the mobile frame 10, which stop members serve to engage the subsidiary frame 25 when the scoop 30 has executed its movement to the stone depositing position and limit the movement of the subsidiary frame 25.

Reverting to FIGURES 4 to 8, these figures illustrate two forms of the stone gathering machine according to the present invention wherein the hopper in each form is disposed over the mobile frame or partially below the level of the mobile frame. Also, in the form of FIGURES 4 and 5 the pull tongue is at the center of the front cross member of the mobile frame, and in the form of FIG- URES 6 to 8 the pull tongue is to one side of one of the side members 12 of the mobile frame and may be shifted from this position to a position midway of the cross member of the mobile frame.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the stone gathering machine of such figures comprises a frame 10' which includes a pair of side members 12', a rear cross member 13 extending between and joined to the side members 12' at the rear ends thereof, an intermediate cross member 14' forwardly of and spaced from the rear cross member 13' and joined to the side members 12', and a front cross member 17 extending between and joined to the side members 12. The intermediate cross member 14' carries a pair of rear ground-engaging wheels 24 which support the rearward end of the mobile frame The front cross member 17 has an extension 17 at each end which supports a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 16, and a caster wheel fork 18 is journaled at its upper end in each bearing sleeve 16, a caster wheel 19' being journaled in each of the forks 18 and serving to support the forward end of the frame 10' for the steering of the machine. A pull tongue of triangular configuration is swingably connected at its base to the front cross member 17, as at 3, and carries at its apical front end an apertured lug 8 for connection to the hitch mechanism of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor.

With reference to FIGURES 6 to 8, the stone gathering machine of such figures comprises a frame 10' which includes a pair of side members 12', a rear cross member 13 extending between and joined to the side members 12 at the rear ends thereof, an intermediate cross member 14' forwardly of and spaced from the rear cross member 13' and joined to the side members 12, and a front cross member 17 extending between and joined to the side members 12'. The intermediate cross member 14- carries a pair of rear ground-engaging wheels 24' which support the rearward end of the mobile frame 10'. The front cross member 17 has an extension 17 at each end which supports a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 16, and a caster wheel fork 18' is journaled at its upper end in each bearing sleeve 16', a caster wheel 19 being journaled in each of the forks 18 and serving to support the forward end of the frame 10 and providing for the steering of the machine. A poll tongue 80 is disposed to one side of one of the side members 12' and is operatively connected to the one side member and the adjacent part of the front cross member 17. Specifically, the tongue 80 comprises an elongated bar 81 which has one end 82 releasably and pivotally connected to the outer end of a transversely projecting hanger 83 which has its inner end attached to a bracket 84 projecting longitudinally from the front cross member 17 adjacent the said one side member 12'. The other end of the bar 81 is provided with an apertured lug 88 for connection to the hitch mechanism of :a towing vehicle, such as a tractor. A brace bar 85 extends from the said one side member 12 to the outer end of the hanger 83 and is fixedly secured to the said one side member 12' in the hanger 83. It is to be noted that the bar 81 is provided with a hole 87 adjacent the outer end thereof, the hole serving a purpose to be subsequently described. Projecting transversely from the bar 81 intermediate its ends are a pair of braces 89 and 90 which are arranged in convergent relation, the convergent ends of the braces 89 and 90 being Welded to a connecting member 91. The connecting member 91 is bolted to the free end of a mounting element 92, the element 92 being swingably connected to the mid portion of the front cross member 17, as at 93.

The tongue 80, FIGURES 6 'to 8, may be shifted so that it projects from the mid portion of the front cross member 17. This may be accomplished by removing the pivoted connection at the outer end of the hanger 83, disconnecting the bolt securing the connecting member 91 to the mounting element 92, flipping over the bar 81 and the braces 89 and 90 to the position such that the bar 81 and braces 89 and 90 are midway of the front cross member 17 or the dotted line position of FIGURE 6, securing the bar 81 to the mounting element 92 by inserting the fastening element or bolt, not shown, so as to extend through the hole 87 in the bar 81 and the hole 94 in the mounting element 92, and then reattaching the connecting member 91 to the mounting element element 92. In each of the two forms of the stone gathering machine according to this invention illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, and in FIGURES 6 to 8, a subsidiary frame indicated generally by the numeral 25', and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side pieces 26', a front cross piece 27', and a rear cross piece 28, is positioned between the side members 12' of the frame 10' so that it extends in an upwardly sloping direction with the rear cross piece 28' above and adjacent the side members 12' of the frame 10' and the front cross piece 27 below the side members 12' and adjacent to and spaced from the intermediate cross member 14 of the frame 10'.

A scoop 30, the forms of FIGURES 4 and 5, and of FIGURES 6 to 8, is disposed so as to gather stones from the ground surface and extends along and forwardly of the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25 and faces toward the front cross piece 27, the scoop 30', being fixedly secured to the front cross piece 27' of the subsidiary frame 25'. Specifically, the scoop 30 comprises a plurality of tines 32' each including an upstanding shank 32 and a tapered prong 31' projecting from the lower end of the shank 32', the upstanding shank 32' being disposed in side-by-side spaced relation forwardly of abutting the front cross piece 27 of the subsidiary frame 25 and extending along the entire length of the cross piece 27' and being secured to the cross piece 27'. Means connects the rear cross piece 28' of the subsidiary frame 25' to the mobile frame 10' for pivotal movement of the subsidiary frame 25' between the stone gathering position of the scoop 30 and the stone depositing position of the scoop 30. Specifically, this means comprises an upstanding bracket 35' carried by each of the side members 12' of the mobile frame 10', and a pivot pin 36' carried by each of the brackets 35' and journaled in the rear cross piece 28' of the subsidiary frame 25. A stop 38 is carried by each of the side members 12 of the mobile frame 10' and engages the underneath surface of the adjacent one of the side pieces 26 of the subsidiary frame 25'. These stops 38' constitute means for adjustably holding the scoop 30 in the stone gathering position.

Means is operatively connected to the subsidiary frame 25' for effecting the pivotal movement of the frame 25 between the stone gathering position of the scoop 30, shown in full lines in FIGURE 8, and the stone depositing position of the scoop 30, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 8. Such means comprises a single double-acting cylinder 40 which has a plunger reciprocably movable therein and a connecting rod secured to the plunger and having one end projecting outwardly at one end of the cylinder. The cylinder 40 is arranged at the mid point of the rear cross member 13 of the mobile frame 10 and has one end pivotally connected to the rear cross member 13', as at 41, the projecting end of the connecting rod 42 being operatively connected to the adjacent portion of the rear cross piece 28' of the subsidiary frame 25. This arrangement is such that when the plunger is actuated so as to project the connecting rod 42' out of the cylinder 40' by the admission of fluid under pressure into the appropriate end of the cylinder 40', the subsidiary frame 25' will swing about the pivot pins 36' and shift the scoop 30 from the stone gathering position, shown in full lines in FIG- URE 8, to the stone depositing position, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 8. Admission of fluid under pressure in the opposite end of the cylinder 40 results in shifting of the scoop 30 to the stone gathering position.

The hopper 45, for receiving stones, FIGURES 4 and 5 and FIGURES 6 to 8, is disposed over the mobile frame 10' so that it is partially below the level of the mobile frame 10'. The hopper 45 is of a right angled configuration and is mounted so that the long leg portion 46' is supported upon the intermediate cross member 14' of the mobile frame 10. Means is provided which connects the long leg portion 46' of the hopper 45' to the rear cross member 13' of the mobile frame 10 for pivotal movement of the hopper 45 about a horizontal axis Specifically, this means comprises a horizontal pivot pin 46 which is carried by the under part of the long leg portion 46' of the hopper 45 and which is journaled in pillars 50 rising from the rear cross member 13 of the frame 10'.

Mechanism is provided which is operatively connected to the mobile frame 10" and the subsidiary frame for selectively connecting the hopper 45', FIGURES 4 and 5 and FIGURES 6 to 8, for movement between the stone receiving position and the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the sCOOp between the stone gathering position and the stone depositing position. This mechanism comprises a lift arm 60 supported upon the subsidiary frame 25' and extending from the front cross pieces 27 of the subsidiary frame 25' to a point adjacent the hopper and having the end adjacent the front cross piece 27' connected to the subsidiary frame 25' for movement therewith, as by a pair of legs 52' on the front cross piece 27 with a bolt 53 extending therethrough. Releasable interengaging means is on the end of the lift arm which is adjacent the hopper 45' and on the exterior of the adjacent wall of the hopper 45 or the short leg portion 47' of the hopper 4-5, said means serving to connect the hopper 45 to the scoop 30' for movement of the hopper 45 between the stone receiving position and a stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop 30 between the stone gathering position and the stone depositing position. Actuable means is operatively connected to a side member 12 of the mobile frame 10, and is operable, upon actuation, to engage the lift arm 60' and shift the lift arm 60 so that the releasable interengaging means connects the hopper 45' for movement responsive to movement of the scoop 30', and operable, upon release, to disengage the hopper 45' for movement responsive to movement of the scoop 30'. As shown in FIGURES 4, 6 and 8, the lift arm 60' consists of a pair of like arms 60' which have the ends adjacent the hopper 45' connected together by a rod 63'. The interengaging means on the ends of the lift arms 60' which are adjacent the hopper 45 embodies hook-shaped elements 62 which are adapted to releasably and embracingly engage the rod 63. The actuable means of the stone gathering machine of FIGURES 4 and 5 and of FIGURES 6 to 8, includes a lever 65 extending transversely across the side members 12' of the mobile frame 10' and rockably supported on the side members 12'. The lift member 66 which is in the form of a pair of like members 66' is secured to the lever 65', the complemental free ends of the lift members 67 being connected together by a roller '70. A cable or cord 67 is operatively connected to the lever 65. Application of pull to the cable 67', causes the lever 65' to be moved into lifting engagement with the lift member 66, and thereby shift the rod 63' into embracing engagement with the hook element 62' and connect the hopper 45 for movement from the stone receiving position to the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop 30 from the stone gathering position to the stone depositing position. Release of the application of the pull on the cable 67', causes the lever 65' to be moved out of lifting engagement with the lift member 66' and returned to its normal position, and thereby permit the rod 63 to drop out of embracing engagement with the hook element 62' and disconnect the hopper 45' from the scoop 30' for movement of the hopper from the stone receiving position to the stone dumping position responsive to movement of the scoop from the stone gathering position to the stone depositing position.

It is to be noted that in the two forms of the stone gathering machine of FIGURES 4 and 5, and of FIG- URES 6 to 8, a pair of stop members 72' are provided on the side members 12' of the mobile frame 10', which stop members serve to engage the subsidiary frame 25', when the scoop 30' has executed its movement to the stone depositing position, and limit the movement of the subsidiary frame 25'.

What is claimed is:

1. A stone gathering machine comp-rising a substantially horizontal mobile frarne having a forward end and a rearward end and including a pair of side members and a rear cross member at the rearward end, a subsidiary frame embodying a pair of laterlly spaced side pieces, a front crosspiece, and a rear crosspiece, positioned between the side members of said mobile frame so that it extends in an upwardly sloping direction with the rear crosspiece above and adjacent the side members of said mobile frame and the front crosspiece below the side members of said mobile frame and adjacent to and spaced from the forward end of said mobile frame, a scoop disposed so as to gather stones from the ground surface and facing toward the forward end of said mobile frame and extending along and forwardly of the front crosspiece of said subsidiary frame, means securing said scoop to the front crosspiece of said subsidiary frame, means connecting the rear crosspiece of said subsidiary frame to the side members of said mobile frame adjacent the rear cross member thereof for pivotal movement of said subsidiary frame between a stone gathering position and a stone depositing position, a hopper arranged in a stone receiving position in which the greater portion of the hopper is disposed above the side members of said mobile frame between the rearward end thereof and said subsidiary frame and connected to the side members of said mobile frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis substantially above said mobile frame, means operatively connected to said subsidiary frame and said mobile frame for effecting movements of said scoop to said stone gathering and depositing positions, and mechanism operatively connected to said mobile frame and said subsidiary frame for selectively connecting said hopper to said scoop for movement of said hopper between a stone receiving and a stone dumping position responsive to the movement of the scoop between the stone gathering position and the stone depositing position, said mechanism including a lift arm having its forward end pivoted to the front crosspiece of said subsidiary frame and extending rearwardly and upwardly so that its rear end is positioned at a point adjacent the upper portion of the front of said hopper, releasable interengaging means on said rear end of the lift arm and the front of the hopper for connecting the hopper to the scoop for movement of the hopper between the stone receiving and stone dumping positions responsive to movement of said scoop between the stone gathering and stone depositing positions, actuable means operatively connected to a side member of said mobile frame and operable, upon actuation, to engage said lift arm and shift said lift arm so that the releasable interengaging means connects the hopper to the scoop for movement of said hopper responsive to movement of said scoop, and operable, upon release, to disengage the interengaging means and disconnect the hopper from the scoop.

2. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said interengaging means embodies a hook element on the rear end of said lift arm and a rod on the exterior of the front wall of said hopper.

3. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said interengaging means embodies a roller on the rear end of the lift arm and a hook element on the exterior of the front wall of said hopper.

4. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said actuable means comprises a trip lever pivoted on a side member of said mobile frame, an intermediate lever pivoted on said subsidiary frame having an arm engaged by turning of the trip lever to turn the intermediate lever into engagement with the lift arm so 9 as to lift the lift arm and thereby connect said releasable interengaging means.

5. A stone gathering machine according to claim 4 wherein said means for effecting movements of said scoop comprises at least one fluid pressure cylinder pivoted at one end to the rear cross member of the mobile frame and having a forwardly projecting piston rod operatively connected to the rear crosspiece of the said subsidiary frame.

6. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said actuable means comprises a trip lever pivoted on a side member of said mobile frame, an intermediate lever secured to said trip lever and extending forwardly of the front of the hopper to be turned by the trip lever into engagement with the lift arm so as to lift the lift arm and thereby connect said releasable interengaging means.

7. A stone gathering machine according to claim 6 wherein said means for effecting movements of said scoop comprises a single fluid pressure cylinder pivoted at one end to the rear cross member of the mobile frame centrally thereof and having a forwardly projecting piston rod operatively connected to the rear crosspiece of said subsidiary frame.

8. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said mobile frame includes in addition a front cross member at the forward end, wherein said hopper is disposed so that its bottom is below the level of the side members of said mobile frame, and which includes a further addition of a draft tongue projecting from the outer side of one of the side members of said mobile frame and operatively connected to said one side member and said front cross member, said tongue being shiftable to a position projecting from the midpoint of said front cross member.

*9. A stone gathering machine according to claim 8 wherein a brace member extends diagonally forward from the center of said front cross member to connect with an intermediate portion of said tongue, said brace member being formed in two parts one of which is shiftable with the tongue to connect to the forward free end of the other part when the tongue is shifed to said position projecting from the midpoint of the front cross member.

10. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein said mobile frame includes in addition a front cross member at the forward end, wherein said hopper is disposed so that its bottom is below the level of the side members of said mobile frame, and which includes in addition a draft tongue located at and projecting from the midpoint of the front cross member of said mobile frame.

11. A stone gathering machine according to claim 1 wherein one of the side members of the said mobile frame has an extension projecting from the forward end, wherein said hopper is disposed so that its bottom is above the level of the side members of said mobile frame, and which includes in addiiton a draft tongue located at the outer side of said extension.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STONE GATHERING MACHINE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL MOBILE FRAME HAVING A FORWARD END AND A REARWARD END AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS AND A REAR CROSS MEMBER AT THE REARWARD END, A SUBSIDIARY FRAME EMBODYING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SIDE PIECES, A FRONT CROSSPIECE, AND A REAR CROSSPIECE, POSITIONED BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME SO THAT IT EXTENDS IN AN UPWARDLY SLOPING DIRECTION WIH THE REAR CROSSPIECE ABOVE AND ADJACENT THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME AND THE FRONT CROSSPIECE BELOW THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME AND ADJACENT TO AND SPACED FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID MOBILE FRAME, A SCOOP DISPOSED SO AS TO GATHER STONES FROM THE GROUND SURFACE AND FACING TOWARD THE FORWARD END OF SAID MOBILE FRAME AND EXTENDING ALONG AND FORWARDLY OF THE FRONT CROSSPIECE OF SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME, MEANS SECURING SAID SCOPP TO THE FRONT CROSSPIECE OF SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME, MEANS CONNECTING THE REAR CROSSPIECE OF SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME TO THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME ADJACENT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THEREOF FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME BETWEEN A STONE GATHERING POSITION AND A STONE DEPOSITING POSITION, A HOPPER ARRANGED IN A STONE RECEIVING POSITION IN WHICH THE GREATER PORTION OF THE HOPPER IS DISPOSED ABOVE THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME BETWEEN THE REARWARD END THEREOF AND SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME AND CONNECTERD TO THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID MOBILE FRAME, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME AND SAID MOBILE FRAME FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENTS OF SAID SCOOP TO SAID STONE GATHERING AND DEPOSITING POSITIONS, AND MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOBILE FRAME AND SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID HOPPER TO SAID SCOOP FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID HOPPER BETWEEN A STONE RECEIVING AND A STONE DUMPING POSITION RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE SCOOP BETWEEN THE STONE GATHERING POSITION AND THE STONE DEPOSITING POSITION, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING A LIFT ARM HAVING ITS FORWARD END PIVOTED TO THE FRONT CROSSPIECE OF SAID SUBSIDIARY FRAME AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY SO THAT ITS REAR END IS POSITIONED AT A POINT ADJACENT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRONT OF SAID HOPPER, RELEASABLE INTERENGAGING MEANS ON SAID REAR END OF THE LIFT ARM AND THE FRONT OF THE HOPPER FOR CONNECTING THE HOPPER TO THE SCOOP FOR MOVEMENT OF THE HOPPER BETWEEN THE STONE RECEIVING AND STONE DUMPING POSITIONS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SCOOP BETWEEN THE STONE GATHERING AND STONE DEPOSITING POSITIONS, ACTUABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A SIDE MEMBER OF SAID MOBILE FRAME AND OPERABLE, UPON ACTUATION, TO ENGAGE SAID LIFT ARM AND SHIFT SAID LIFT ARM SO THAT THE RELEASABLE INTERENGAGING MEANS CONNECTS THE HOPPER TO TH SCOOP FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID HOPPER RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SCOOP, AND OPERABLE, UPON RELEASE, TO DISENGAGE THE INTERENGAGING MEANS AND DISCONNECT THE HOPPER FROM THE SCOOP. 